Waller reaches record-breaking century

Northampton Saints prop Alex Waller has become the first player in Aviva Premiership Rugby history to make 100 consecutive appearances on Saturday.

Waller achieved the remarkable feat when he came on for the final 29 minutes as Saints beat Bath Rugby 13-11 at the Recreation Ground.

The 25-year-old has not missed an Aviva Premiership Rugby fixture since the opening fixture of the 2011/12 campaign and the only contest he has missed since February 2011 was the play-off semi-final defeat to Leicester Tigers, when he was an unused substitute.

Waller was not aware of his superb achievement until Saturday evening when he was bombarded with messages of congratulations.

He tweeted: “Great win. Great effort from all the lads. Many thanks for the 100 consecutive messages. Had no idea. #sorebody”

The 25-year-old has now made 111 appearances in the Aviva Premiership Rugby since his debut in 2011.

He already had the record for the most successive appearances in Aviva Premiership Rugby, with the previous best being former Gloucester Rugby lock Alex Brown, who didn’t miss 87 matches between November 2000 and October 2004.

Ex-Bath scrum-half Michael Claassens is third on the list with 83 consecutive outings between April 2009 and January 2013, Ceri Jones made 71 and Waller’s former Saints team-mate Soane Tonga’uiha managed 68.

Most Successive Premiership Matches:

100+

Alex Waller

Northampton Saints

4 Sep 11-

87

Alex Brown

Gloucester Rugby

18 Nov 00 – 16 Oct 04

83

Michael Claasens

Bath Rugby

19 Apr 09 – 6 Jan 13

71

Ceri Jones

Harlequins

3 Mar 07 – 17 Apr 10

68

Soane Tonga’uiha

Northampton Saints

7 Sep 08 – 14 May 11

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